15 April 2013, Paris, France - For the third consecutive year, UNITAR contributed to the training of 300 senior officers originating from 70 countries at the War School (l’École de Guerre) in Paris.

Over a period of three weeks in April, the simulation exercise "Coalition 2013" precisely reconstructed the scenario of a contemporary regional conflict with a multinational, inter-armies and inter-agencies framework in place. This particularly realistic exercise, co-led by UNITAR, allows the officers trained to analyze the coherence of planning between the operational, strategic, and policy levels.

This comprehensive approach dealing with both conventional and asymmetric threats involves direct consideration of the political, diplomatic, and media environment. Placed in a context very close to contemporary crises, trainees plan their strategic and operational modes of action before implementing them with the help of the IT system of the Simulation Center for Training, Coaching and Experimentation (CSFEE).

The authenticity of diplomatic and political aspects is ensured by the participation of auditors of the Centre for Security Policy of Geneva (CPSG) and the Centre for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies (CEDS), mentored by members of UNITAR. The unique expertise of UNITAR in the fields of humanitarian and diplomatic efforts, particularly at the United Nations level, provides a rich and realistic framework for the simulation.

A team of five members of UNITAR represented and embodied the different UN agencies’ roles in conflict management. Among those was Mr. Ambassador Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah (former Special Envoy of the Secretary-General) who brilliantly played the role of the Secretary-General of the UN.

Other team members, who are professionals familiar with peacekeeping operations, humanitarian actions, and conflict management have significantly contributed to the high quality of the exercise, representing key agencies of the UN, such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissionerfor Refugees (UNHCR) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), but also the indispensable international humanitarian organization that is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).The War School of Paris and UNITAR will keep on developing this fruitful cooperation.